Chapter 2: Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke

NAME: Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke

This character is much more in line with his DCU version. The general personality of the Arrowverse version from the island is very much in line with the DCU version. The Mirakiru version is NOT. Not to mention they made him an Aussie and his kids evil. Joe became a Teen Titan for heaven's sake. Grant was killed off by HIVE. Adeline hated Rose, but Rose was most like Slade. VERY COMPLEX CHARACTER that the Arrowverse just destroyed.

ORIGIN:

US Army Special Forces, Team 7, Medically Retired, Mercenary

After a nearly fatal Special Forces mission, Slade was tasked to Team 7 where he met Dr. David Isherwood. Isherwood discovered that Slade had an activated metagene (healing). The other members of Team 7 also had active metagenes. Isherwood conducted minor experiments to enhance that metagene and strengthen it. This also gave the team members enhanced senses, flexibility, reflexes, and strength.

At the termination of Team 7, Slade volunteered for the ACTH serum program. This was a US-sponsored program. In theory, this serum would create a super soldier. Instead, it placed most of the volunteers into a coma or death. Slade experienced a coma and blackouts after the experiments. He was eventually medically retired.

Slade eventually recovered from his coma and his blackouts. Even retired, he needed to feel active. He found that he had an even greater healing ability, enhanced strength, flexibility, agility, durability, reflexes, stamina, senses, and increased intelligence. He decided to start working as a mercenary. This started his arguments with Adeline. On one of his first missions, he rescued several women from Vietnam.

As Slade's reputation as a mercenary grew, he was able to take better contracts. He adopted the name Deathstroke. He commanded high prices due to the success of his high-risk missions.

FAMILY:

Slade Wilson married Adeline Kane while still in the US Army Special Forces. His first son, Grant, was born while he was still in Special Forces. Joseph was born after Isherwood had started his experiments. Joseph inherited his father's enhanced genetics.

Rose Wilson was born from an affair with her Vietnamese mother and Slade. She inherited all of his advanced genetics and ACTH enhancements.

One of his first mercenary missions left one party looking for revenge on Slade. They found his son Joseph home alone. Slade was able to rescue the boy, but not before Joseph was critically injured. This led to Adeline trying to kill Slade by shooting him in the head through his eye. Slade was able to recover due to his healing enhancements. But his eye, even grown back, would never see again. They divorced shortly after. This injury led Bill Wintergreen to speculate that Slade could not die.

MOTIVATION:

For this story, Slade has worked in the mercenary community for several years. As he grew in reputation, he was able to command higher prices. He always took the contracts with the highest risk, especially after Joseph was injured. He also tried to limit who else would participate in his missions. He knew his limits, but he preferred to take all the risks himself.

His mark of honor was to always complete a contract, if possible. He would never withdraw a contract once accepted. No matter the price.

He often refused a time limit on his contracts. He wanted to gather intelligence on the subject before completing the mission. He preferred contracts with complexity and risk. William 'Billy' Wintergreen is his agent. He is a former SAS agent that Slade had rescued.

Slade is independently wealthy. He does not need to take any new contracts. He picks and chooses his contracts based on how challenging they will be. He prefers to minimize collateral damage. He isn't paid to kill indiscriminately.

PERSONALITY:

Slade is very focused on his honor. He ties much of who he is into how well he can complete a job. It is honorable to choose one side and stick to that side. It is honorable to care for your children. Slade can recognize others with honor and those without.

Slade also has some anger issues. He can control his anger when he is on a mission. But it usually escalates when he is thwarted in his goals. He loves a challenge, but he hates to lose. Those who thwarted him in his goals usually bear the brunt of his wrath.

Slade can justify his actions in killing and mercenary work by rationalizing that everyone is a mercenary to some degree. That makes his actions no less honorable than a businessman. It comes down to talent, skill, and service. He provides a rare service. He has the talent and skill to back it up.

Slade is also able to justify a flexible morality by declaring that each society has determined what is moral and what is not. He will often pull up the Romans as an example of a civilized society with slavery that frequently fed people to wild animals for entertainment.

NOTES:

Slade is one of my favorite anti-heroes. His DCU version had some serious issues (like the whole Teen Titans thing), but he is often used as both a good and a bad character. It works with his personality. The quick fix of the Mirakiru was a stupid idea that let a good character go to waste.

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Endnotes:

ACTH - A type of genome identifier. This type of experiment modified the DNA of its subjects.
AKA - Also Known As
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid - Proteins that are the foundation of how cells are made and create a unique individual.
Mirakiru - An Arrowverse invention. A WWII Japanese Super soldier serum that could be found in the blood.
SAS - Special Air Service. British Special Forces.
US - United States

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